on the show after leaving The Tonight Show. Carson maintained a friendship with the show for the years that followed, even secretly writing jokes for the monologue. This rare surprise appearance was Carson's final major television appearance before his death, and to many, his way of acknowledging Letterman as his successor (even if Jay Leno was doing his former show, at the time). Carson never appeared on Leno's version of Tonight. December 2 Hello Deli owner Rupert Jee makes his first appearance, on a segment called "Fun With Rupert". 1995 April 12 After finding out it was Letterman's birthday, Drew Barrymore gave him a "little impromptu birthday present": she "hopped up on his desk, did a sexy little dance, turned her back to the camera and flashed her breasts". May 16 A week of shows, with most crew and cast, were filmed and broadcast entirely from London, United Kingdom, featuring guests Pierce Brosnan, Jennifer Saunders, Joanna Lumley, and a musical performance by Elvis Costello. A segment featuring Zsa Zsa Gabor was also taped. In addition, sitting in with the CBS Orchestra were Little Richard and Chuck Berry. 1996 September 20 In early September 1996, it was announced that Late Show would experiment with a commercial-free format. The September 20 broadcast of the show did not contain traditional commercials, although there were breaks (within the show) to acknowledge sponsors. Pearl Jam was the musical guest on this night. 1997 June 5 Farrah Fawcett visited the show for the first time promoting a Playboy Pay-Per-View special and appeared disoriented and incoherent. 1998 February 16 NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt does the Top Ten List after winning the Daytona 500. 1999 February 23 Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura, a former professional wrestler who had assumed office on January 4, visits the show for the first time. December 31 Late Show broadcasts in prime time for the year 2000 New Year's Eve. Kevin James is the guest, with a performance by the Brooklyn Philharmonic and cameo appearances by Dick Clark and New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. (Under normal circumstances, Letterman does not broadcast a show on New Year's Eve, opting instead for a repeat.) 2000 February 21 On January 14, Letterman announced on Late Show that he was undergoing an angiogram the following day, after doctors had recently been concerned about his high cholesterol and family history (his father died of a heart attack at